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Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.

Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.

The recovery process doesn't end after 90 days of treatment. The transition back to life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as 12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with rewarding relationships and meaning.

Our community offers unique perspectives on lifelong recovery and substance use prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.

Feds Expand Buprenorphine Access to Fight Opioid Epidemic

The White House announced a new rule July 6 expanding access to medication-assisted treatments for opioid addiction. The move was one part of a new effort by the Obama administration to combat the opioid epidemic.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced it was increasing the number of buprenorphine prescriptions a physician can write in one year from 100 to 275. The federal regulating authority for behavioral health care acknowledged that the previous limit created a barrier to treatment for people with an opioid use disorder.

Policymakers had initially limited the number of prescriptions to 100 because buprenorphine has potential for abuse. While the drug does not cause the intense effects that heroin or morphine produce, it can be abused in high doses.

The Department of Veterans Affairs now requires its physicians to check PDMPs before prescribing controlled substances and to check the records of a patient receiving controlled substances at least once a year.

The Department of Defense is evaluating its own PDMP and developing recommendations for improvement.

However, the efforts may be wasted if legislators are unable to secure funding for the proposed programs.

Congress Split on Funding for Opioid Bills

A July 6 conference meeting between senators and representatives ended in disappointment for Democrats hoping to secure $920 million in funding for addiction treatment efforts, according to The New York Times.

In February, Obama asked Congress for $1.1 billion to fund efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) outlined numerous prevention and treatment efforts that required the funding, including expanding access to buprenorphine.

The DHHS achieved that goal July 6, but most of the other goals are in jeopardy without proper funding. In March, the Senate passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S. 524) to support prevention and treatment efforts. However, senators denied an amendment to the bill that would have allocated $600 million in funding to support the measures.

Two months later, the House passed the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act (H.R. 5046), a companion bill that included $103 million in annual funding for five years. Companion bills contain similar language, but the House and Senate must agree on a single bill before sending it to the president.

Republicans and Democrats disagree about the effectiveness of the bill without accompanying funding and the potential for other committees to find funding in the future. Some experts believed Democrats would attempt to stall the bill without funding, but the House approved the new bill July 8. The senate approved the bill July 13.

President Obama is expected to sign it into law despite funding concerns.

Chris Elkins worked as a journalist for three years and was published by multiple newspapers and online publications. Since 2015, he’s written about health-related topics, interviewed addiction experts and authored stories of recovery. Chris has a master’s degree in strategic communication and a graduate certificate in health communication.